American Hustle - Film Review

American Hustle - Film Review

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Posted 2013-12-15 by Richard Leathemfollow
Director: David O Russell (Silver Linings Playbook, The Fighter, Three Kings)
Cast: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lawrence)

American Hustle is the best 70's-set, epic length, star-studded ensemble piece focussing on a seedy underworld since Boogie Nights. Like that film, its a bravura piece of filmmaking with a wall to wall soundtrack of cult rock classics including an early ELO track as a particular stand-out.



David O Russell has lured back five actors that won or were nominated for Oscars in the last two films he directed, The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook. They've been given 70s makeovers and all give memorable performances here.

Hustle is based on a true story, albeit with a little tweaking. For one, the names of those involved have been changed. Christian Bale, who lost a ridiculous amount of weight for The Mechanic and The Fighter has gone in the opposite direction and stacked on the pounds to play small time embezzler Irving Rosenfeld. His operation, and love life, kick into high gear when he meets Sydney Prosser, aka Lady Edith, played by Amy Adams. For a while they have a good thing going but after being arrested by FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper), the only way to avoid imprisonment is to play their part in an increasingly elaborate sting to ensnare corrupt politicians.



It's a complex game of deceit and compromised loyalties which much of the time is played for laughs. Rosenfeld's loose canon wife, played brilliantly by Jennifer Lawrence, is a particular comic highlight. Her character is so clueless to the dangers around her, from nefarious types out to get her husband to literally the perils of misusing household appliances. All the while she flips from furious jealousy to self congratulatory triumph at seemingly getting what she wants.

As if the story wasn't juicy enough, Russell clearly revels in the trappings of the times. A scene on the dance floor of a popular nightclub just makes you want to transport yourself back to the disco era of the late 70s. Elsewhere, the camera drools over every audacious fashion statement on display.

Margaret Pomeranz has called this a "hair and tits movie". There is certainly plenty of cleavage and wild hair on display, and in the case Bradley Cooper, the two converge in the same place via his open necked shirts.



Russell may play fast and loose with the details of the story, and don't even try to find a moral compass on either side of the law, yet despite the shadiness of the characters you can't help but enjoy their company and delight in the shifting plates their relationships are perched on.

This is an entertaining crime yarn dressed up in deliriously decadent clothing. Unlike the fashions of the day though, the film is likely to improve with age.



All images from www.facebook.com/AmericanHustle

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88944 - 2023-06-11 08:00:50

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